HBO Gives Us A Sneak Peek Into the Final Scene of Season 7:

It has been twenty four hours now since HBO’s final episode ever of True Blood, fans have watched and rewatched the Season 7 finale episode (entitled Thank You) and are now searching for every last little scrap of True Blood footage out there.

So here’s what I have found for you. It’s a special video which delves into a behind the scenes look at the final scene for the True Blood Season 7 finale! There are plenty of interviews with the cast present for the Thanksgiving feast as well as the crew to keep you going for a while longer.

Nathan Barr Discusses His Musical Choices:

When you ask anyone what song they think of when they are asked about HBO’s True Blood, most people would answer Bad Things by Jace Everett. But there is someone else who is just as responsible for giving True Blood its musical groove: Nathan Barr. He is the TV show’s composer and is the one who makes the song choices for each episode. According to Nathan, creating an original music score for True Blood is easy because he is a fan first, composer second:

If I can react as a fan then it gives the music a chance to really be a part of the show in a way that’s going to be of the best benefit and please the audience.

And, being such a fan of the show, it was his idea to push for True Blood: The Musical. It is an idea that has stayed with him from the time he composed the song Take Me Home for the scene in Season 1 when Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin) eats her Gran’s pecan pie after her death. While his idea may never come to fruition, he is still hopeful:

There are no guarantees at this point… It’s more about finding the essence of what the story is about and if you look at it from that point of view, it actually becomes quite simple because a musical is two hours.

But before he can even seriously push for a True Blood musical, there is still the question of the True Blood finale: who will live and who will die? Considering the fact Nathan hasn’t seen the episode yet, but he has composed the music for it, he has this final gem to add:

I haven’t even seen [it] yet… I know that the absolute last scene in the show is going to be really, really emotional.

What do you think he means by this? Let us know your thoughts and theories on the True Blood finale by commenting below!

HBO’s Programming Head Discusses Why True Blood was Axed:

Fans of True Blood have been begging HBO to bring back their favorite vampire series since it was announced last year that it wouldn’t be renewed beyond Season 7. With ratings this year as strong as in previous seasons, many fans are questioning why a show as successful as True Blood should go. HBO’s programming head, Michael Lombardo has finally released a statement on this matter:

This season, True Blood is one of the highest-rated shows across the board; it gets over 10 million views an episode. But the minute you feel you’re airing it for the numbers we start questioning it. Every season we sit down with the creator and say ‘Tell us what the next year will be like.’ And if there aren’t exciting, unbelievable, undeniable ideas in the coming season, we’re questioning. And I think in the case of True Blood, it just felt like we had reached a place where the storytelling was hitting a wall. And to stay just because the ratings were strong felt not who we are and we needed, quite honestly, the money and Sunday night space for new shows.

And, for a network whose income is based on subscribers rather than advertising, perhaps he has a point here. What HBO needs to keep doing is creating phenomenal content for the audience they are targeting. However, for the millions of True Blood fans out there, next Sunday night will be a particularly sad one for them.

You can tune in to watch the True Blood Season 7 finale on HBO at 9PM EST on Sunday 24th August 2014.

More True Blood Cast Line up to Be Interviewed By EJ Scott:

A while back we mentioned that Deborah Ann Woll’s (who plays vampire Jessica Hamby in HBO’s True Blood) boyfriend, EJ Scott, was doing some podcast interviews with the cast of True Blood. Well, we now have some new names to add to the ever growing list of True Blood cast lining up to be interviewed on EJ’s show. You can view the new interviews by clinking on the links below:

True Blood’s Music Supervisor Gary Calamar Spills the Beans:

For fans of HBO’s True Blood, the iconic song (Bad Things by Jace Everett) that rolls out across the screen along with the opening credits for each episode of the show is just as important as the actual episode! But what if that song had never made the cut? Would the show still have the same vibe? After all, there was recently a mock up Cheer’s version of True Blood released – could you imagine if that had been the opening credits all along?

Well, according to the show’s music supervisor, Gary Calamar, Bad Things was only meant to be a ‘filler’ until a better song came along – but, of course, nothing did:

It was supposed to be kind of placeholder — I had some other ideas — and then it ended up sticking. I think it really provides a great template for the rest of the show.

But there we other songs that never did actually make the cut. Calamar was particulary saddened to see a collaboration with Jenny Lewis to do a cover of The Animals classic Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood, when the season had to be shorted to accommodate a pregnant Anna Paquin (who plays main character, Sookie Stackhouse). He was relieved to see the song did eventually make it onto the soundtrack though.

For Gary, each episode’s song choices begin for him when the script is sent to him. Considering each episode is named after a song title, this is his starting point for his musical choices for the rest of the episode.

But what are his favorite song choices so far? You can view his list below:

Sookie Stackhouse:
The Watson Twins – “Just Like Heaven”

Don Covay & The Jefferson Lemon Blues Band – “Sookie Sookie”

Bill Compton
The Marvelettes – “Don’t Mess With Bill”

Eric Northman
Rob Zombie – “I’m Your Boogie Man”

Jason Stackhouse
Zac Brown – “Chicken Fried”

Sam Merlotte
The Byrds – “One Hundred Years From Now”

Lafayette Reynolds
The Dramatics – “What You See Is What You Get”

Jessica Hamby
Taylor Swift – “Haunted”

Madonna – “Like A Virgin”

Alcide Herveaux
X – “Hungry Wolf”

Sarah Newlin
Sammy Kershaw – “Louisiana Hot Sauce”

Maryann Forester (the Maenad)
PJ Harvey – “To Bring You My Love”

What are your favorite songs from True Blood? Let us know by commenting below!

Why Bill Said No and Why Sookie Can’t Help Getting in Trouble:

Many fans were happy to see Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin) and Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer) get back together at the end of Episode 7 of HBO’s True Blood. Many were not. But, regardless of which team you were vying for, seeing Bill dying and Sookie being devastated about it, is not easy to watch. Hearing Bill say he wanted to die when offered the antidote to his terminal case of Hep-V was even worse. For HBO writer, Kate Barnow, she just hoped that people hadn’t guessed this already with the amount of Bill flashbacks this season:

Truthfully, we were a little concerned that maybe with all the flashbacks that people would guess this was where he was heading, that he was heading into this very fatalistic place. I think Bill has always been at conflict with himself as a vampire, and the thing that has kept him going has been Sookie. But I think that he’s feeling fairly resolute at this point that his time is nigh. That’s certainly what episodes 9 and 10 are gonna explore. Who’s to say if his time really is nigh? The moment where he decides he doesn’t want the blood is largely connected to the dream he’s had where Sookie’s holding the baby void. All of those flashbacks, that dream—everything’s adding up to this should be the end. That’s why he decides it, but all hell is about to break loose. People are not gonna be happy with his decision.

Sookie has risked so much to help heal Bill, having had a run in with the Yakuza and then having to be fake glamoured by Eric Northman (Alexander Skarsgard) were just for starters in this episode, but over the whole season, she has been risking life and limb to fix him. Kate discusses how they wanted Sookie to be more active in this season:

The idea was that Eric would feel kinda at a new place emotionally, which is that he has, to some extent, acknowledged that he has compassion for Sookie, even though she’s a human being. So with this new lease on life, for him to say, “I really want to reassure you that I’m not gonna die”—his whole plan is completely stymied when he gets there. He went with one thing in mind and learns something completely different. And then it’s this conflict of the enterprising Eric up against the romantic Eric. He’s like, motherf–ker, this keeps happening to me: Every time I let my guard down and care for Sookie, it gets in the way. But for Sookie, of course, she’s desperate, and there’s no way that she’s not gonna go after Eric when she finds out there’s a cure. She was just a little bit behind him because he can fly, which, you know, is an advantage. What is truly fun is watching Sookie see the Yakuza standing outside of Fangtasia and just being like, “Okay, I’m doing this anyway.” It feels new, but it’s kinda the same old thing: Sookie’s pursuit of trying to get what she wants, and usually it has something to do with Bill, is gonna mess Eric and Pam up in a big way.

You can read more on what Kate Barnow has to say about the love quadrangle developing between Hoyt (Jim Parrack), Bridgette (Ashley Hinshaw), Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll) and Jason (Ryan Kwanten) as well as what it was like researching items for Violet’s (Karolina Wydra) sex dungeon and plenty more regarding Episode 8 of True Blood Season 7 by clicking here.

Adam Weissler Talks to True Blood’s Music Director:

Fans of HBO’s True Blood know Todd Lowe as the lovable (but damaged) Terry Bellefleur, but did you know he is also a musician?

Hear what he has to say about True Blood’sSeason 6 to ExtraTV.com’s Adam Weissler (“Extra’s” Senior Music Correspondent). True Blood’s Music Supervisor Gary Calamar also stops by for a chat.

Lowe and Calamar discuss what goes into choosing a song for True Blood. Calamar also talks about what happens when an episode title is changed at the last moment (since each episode title is named after a song). And exactly how does music placement in TV series, such as True Blood, helps music artists get their music sold – especially with how easy it is to download songs on iTunes? Find out in the interview below.

Make sure you listen to the end to find out how Terry Bellefleur will fare in True Blood’s Season 6!

Facing Threats From All Directions, Will the Vampire Authority Always Win?

The Mellencamp jokes abound in the aftermath of HBO’s broadcast of the third episode of Season 5 of True Blood. Chris Meloni made his long-awaited appearance as Roman Zimojic, and viewers were introduced to the characters who make up the body of the Authority. Eric Northman (Alexander Skarsgård) and BillCompton (Stephen Moyer) might be viewed as an external threat to the Authority’s authority, but fans have begun to learn the greatest threat might be an internal one.

Alan Ball has said that Season 5 of True Blood would be a reflection of the current state of America’s political battle between extreme religion and secularism. Episode 3 revealed that the Authority will be the vehicle used to present that battle. Roman, as head of the Authority, is the Guardian of the blood of Lilith, and is the main architect of Mainstreaming. Among the seven Chancellors, there is a faction known as Sanguinistas. These are literal and rigidly dogmatic vampires who believe humans are meant to be cultivated as food.

The Authority: The First. The Last. The Eternal:

For an inside peek at The Authority check out HBO’s Inside True Blood Blog which sports a video titled “The Authority: The First. The Last. The Eternal”. The video is filled with scenes from the episode, as well as interviews with cast and crew. The interviews shed light on events viewers have already seen, and hints at exciting things yet to come. It’s entertaining and well worth the watch. On the more humorous side is Jessica’s video blog featuring her new BFF, Ginger. The socially awkward baby vamp and the consummate fangbanger discuss cutting edge fashion for the daring vampire. Nothing that leads to Jessica planning to purchase a ‘bandage dress’ on Bill’s credit card can be good. Check out the video below!

On Clothing Bon Temps and Her Intimate Encounter with Michelle Forbes:

Audrey Fisher, a costume designer for HBO’s True Blood, talked about the experience she has had clothing the residents of Bon Temps, Louisiana. Fisher has been researching for Season 5; her research includes informing herself on what’s in the stores nowadays, maintaining contact with companies, and keeping in touch with the actors. She and creator Alan Ball will have a costume meeting for the purpose of finding the look of the season so she can begin her designs.

Fisher on her weirdest encounter on the True Blood set:

“When Michelle Forbes was the Maenad Bride [MaryAnn Forrester] during the climax of season 2, she was wearing her giant 3-fingered claw hands and this giant 1940s bridal gown and floral headpiece, and the poor dear was so hungry but couldn’t hold her own sandwich… so I fed her. It was very intimate.”

Fisher’s favorite scenes of True Blood:

“I’m partial to the historical flashbacks because it’s so fascinating to see the characters in that new environment, watch the actors be transformed in their period costumes and witness it all unfold in the gorgeous sets… choosing a favorite scene is almost impossible because there are so many stories behind each costume, and every character and every element of their costume.”

We can’t wait to see what Audrey Fisher has in store for our favorite characters, how about you?

New Characters, Stories, and Locations to Stir Up the Waters in Season 5:

HBO’s True Blood cast and crew are back at work gearing up for season 5. Looking back on season 4, we met some great new people and lost some classic characters. (I’m still bummed about losing Queen Sophie-Anne and Nan Flanagan!)

Writer Alexander Woo, who will be authoring two episodes this season, is back to the drawing board. He and the other writers have discussed storylines and themes of season 5 so they can tackle the scripts of the first half of the season.

Alexander Woo on Season 5:

“Some of the things that people loved in the first four seasons of True Blood, you’ll be getting more of. And there will also be some surprises that hopefully delight everyone. We have a sense of what the fans have already enjoyed in the previous seasons, and we’re doing our best to give our fans more of that but also leave some room for novelty and surprise.”

Creator Alan Ball on Season 5:

“We’re really going to find out what the vampire Authority is all about.”